The versatility of dips is undeniable. You can serve them for pre-dinner snacks on a board with crackers and colorful sliced fresh vegetables or as an accompaniment for your mains. You can also smear them on any bread to make delicious sandwiches or wraps. Every cuisine has dips, but most include at least one plant-based ingredient like yogurt, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, or butter.
Luckily, there are several plant-based ingredients to use as substitutes for making dips that vegans can eat. Here is a collection of the best vegan dips to keep you inspired:
Delicious Vegan Dips to Wow Your Tastebuds
The most delicious vegan dips to wow your tastebuds include the two vegan classics everyone loves – hummus and guacamole. These two of the best vegan dips can provide the base for many delightful variations.
Hummus
Hummus remains one of the most popular dips for vegans. It’s delicious, and you can play around with the basic recipe to create many flavors. For example, add roasted red pepper or beets for color and flavor to the chickpeas. Try combining avocado with the chickpeas, or change to white beans and roasted garlic. Try these ideas from Sweet Peas and Saffron, where you will also find a recipe for chocolate hummus to serve with fruit.
You must be careful with ready-made hummus because it does have the potential to include some ingredients that aren’t vegan, like palm oil, sugar, and additives. However, hummus made in restaurants and at home only contains vegan ingredients.
Guacamole
Not all guacamole recipes fit into a vegan diet, but the traditional recipe does. Use ripe avocados, tomatoes, garlic, lime juice, jalapeño, onion, plenty of cilantro, and salt and pepper to create this dip packed with nutritional value.
Try variations like adding black beans and corn, grilling the avocado for a few minutes for flavor intensity, roasted tomatoes, and charred jalapenos. You can also use fruits like mangos and pineapple to create a sweet, spicy guacamole.
Best Vegan Dip Recipes for Every Occasion
Sometimes, the occasion calls for presenting a fancier dip. But, the best vegan dips cannot include ingredients like cream or cheese. That’s where the power of plant-based ingredients saves the day.
There’s no reason why you cannot serve a creamy spinach artichoke dip if you don’t include cream and cheese in your diet. Try this delicious recipe developed by Lisa Kitahara using avocado, tofu, and cashew butter to recreate a vegan version of this famous dip.
Are you looking for a cheesy dip to serve as a dressing for a vegan burger or as an appetizer? Try this vegan Beer Cheese dip from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen that everyone, including meat eaters, will love. Simmer the plant-based cream cheese with non-dairy milk, beer, nutritional yeast, vegan Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and a few spices to make a sauce that will keep in the refrigerator for up to four days. Don’t have vegan cream cheese. No problem. Use cashew nut butter instead.
Easy and Flavorful Vegan Dip Ideas
Most dips don’t require much time to make. You can even make dips in minutes that require beans, chickpeas, and legumes if you buy them canned.
Get ideas on making dips with these easy and flavorful recipes featured in this blog from the Minimalist Baker. You can make the tasty Simple Baba Ganoush or Southwest Sweet Potato Black Bean Dip in 30 minutes or less. For those who prefer a dip made with raw ingredients, why not try the Easy Mango Salsa if you are tired of making guacamole?
Must-Try Vegan Dips for a Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer
When looking online for recipes for the best vegan dips, you’ll be amazed at how many recipes there are. That’s thanks to all the creative people experimenting selflessly with vegan ingredients in their kitchens.
When creating a board with crowd-pleasing appetizers, you will want to add at least a couple of must-try vegan dips. Favorites for serving guests include artichoke and spinach dip, guacamole, or hummus, but why not try something different? See these two recipes submitted to Allrecipes for a Kalamata Olive Tapenade, made without anchovies, and Isa’s French Onion Dip, made with caramelized onions, beans, and coconut oil.
Quick and Simple Vegan Dips for Snack Time
Snack time is that period between meals when you want to keep everyone from becoming “hangry.” Inevitably, you will present a platter of crackers, some sliced vegetables, or some crips or roasted potatoes. When served independently, these can be rather bland, meaning you need a few quick and simple vegan dip ideas.
You can get a vegan snack board ready with crudités and the rest in a very short time. Prepare one or two straightforward dips like sun-dried tomato tapenade or white bean dip to add to the platter and serve.
Here are the recipes for the best vegan dips that are quick and simple to prepare:
Quick Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted black Kalamata olives, rinse and drain
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drain well
- 2 T capers, drained
- 1 t. dried thyme or oregano
- 1 medium garlic clove, crushed
- A pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions
Use a food processor to blend the olives, capers, and sun-dried tomatoes until slightly broken down. Add the other ingredients and pulse to a homogenized but somewhat chunky mixture.
Simple Rosemary-Garlic White Bean Dip
- 3 thinly sliced medium garlic cloves
- 1 t. minced fresh rosemary
- 3 T. extra virgin olive oil
- One 14-ounce can of white beans, rinse and drain
- fresh lemon juice
- A pinh of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Cook the garlic, rosemary, and olive oil in a small pan over medium heat at a gentle sizzle for about one minute. Remove from the stove and set aside to infuse (about 5 minutes). Combine the oil mixture and the remaining ingredients in a food processor until completely smooth. Serve with a garnish of a few rosemary leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.
Irresistible Vegan Dip Recipes You Need to Try
Some of the best vegan dips are irresistible. They make an excellent starter or accompaniment to any meal.
Everyone loves the flavor and freshness of tzatziki served with pitta bread and vegetables or rice-stuffed vine leaves. Of course, tzatziki typically requires Greek yogurt, but you can use a plant-based version to recreate this tangy cucumber dip. You will need about 1 ½ cups of vegan yogurt to ½ a grated cucumber you have drained well. Add to this about three cloves minced garlic, ¼ cup finely sliced fresh dill, and one tablespoon each of lemon and olive oil. Mix well and finish off with a pinch of salt or pepper.
If you want to recreate an irresistible dip for a Mexican night, try this one from Minimalist Baker for Smoky 1-Pot Refried Lentils inspired by refried beans. You need 30 minutes to cook the lentils and combine them with the spices and other ingredients to create this must-try dip.
Creamy and Dreamy Vegan Dips for Veggie Lovers
Are you looking for the best vegan dips that are also creamy and dreamy? Then look no further for ideas than Rainbow Plant Life. Find the dips you want to prepare according to categories: Creamy Vegan Dips, Cheese Vegan Dips, Vegan Bean Dips, and Vegetable and Herb-Based Dips.
Some unusual recipes for creamy dips include the Vegan Aioli, the Vegan Ranch Dressing, and the delicious Muhammara, a Syrian dressing that’s always a guaranteed hit.
Mouthwatering Vegan Dip Ideas for Game Day
Game day brings friends and family together, glued to the screen to support their favorite team. You will want to ensure you have all the snacks prepared and the drinks chilled before the game begins.
Whatever the snacks, add a few mouthwatering dip ideas to the menu for everyone to enjoy. The ultimate snack for many is guacamole and nachos, but you can also serve crudités, crackers, oven-baked potatoes, or crips. Of course, you can serve guacamole, but you can also make other favorites, including a delicious vegan buffalo dip, one of the best beginning dips for game day. You can make several versions of this dip. Some use cauliflower, while others use tofu, which are all delicious. Three of the best recipes to try are the:
- The Vegan Buffalo Tofu Dip from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken uses baked shredded tofu and raw cashews.
- The Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip, created by Caitlin Shoemaker for From My Bowl, uses silken tofu, nutritional yeast, and vegan cream cheese.
- The Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip (Using Cauliflower) from Veggies Don’t Bite is a creamy and decadent version that no one can resist, including cauliflower, beans, potato, and cashews.
Now that you have a good selection of some of the best vegan dips, don’t hesitate to make these for every occasion. These are great to serve with snacks or meals. Use your creativity and the ingredients available at home to create imaginative dips and sauces for every occasion.
Expert Tips for Perfect Vegan Dips: Making, Serving, and Enjoying
Embarking on a culinary adventure with vegan dips means exploring a world of flavor, texture, and vibrant ingredients. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a curious newbie in the kitchen, mastering the art of vegan dips can transform your appetizers into memorable, mouthwatering experiences. Here are expert tips to guide you in making, serving, and enjoying vegan dips that captivate your tastebuds and impress your guests.
- Selecting the Right Ingredients: To make a great dip, it is important, to begin with fresh and high-quality ingredients. You should choose organic vegetables and herbs as they are packed with more flavor and nutrients. If you want to make creamy dips, opt for rich plant-based alternatives such as cashews, avocados, or silken tofu. This will ensure that your dips are luscious and satisfying.
- Texture and Consistency Tips: The perfect texture is vital to dip delight. A high-speed blender or food processor can create a creamy consistency without lumps for smooth dips if you prefer a chunkier texture, pulse ingredients briefly or mix in finely chopped veggies or herbs by hand after blending the base. Remember, the consistency of your dip can also be adjusted by adding a little water, plant-based milk, or olive oil to thin it out or by refrigerating it for a while to thicken.
- Flavor Enhancement Tricks: Elevate your dips with flavor by incorporating roasted vegetables, such as bell peppers or eggplant, into your recipes. Don’t avoid bold spices and fresh herbs to add depth and character to your dips. A splash of lemon juice or a dash of nutritional yeast can also bring your dips to life, adding a zesty or cheesy note that’s utterly irresistible.
- Serving Suggestions: Appealingly presenting your vegan dips is almost as important as their taste. Use colorful vegetables for dipping, such as carrot sticks, cucumber rounds, and red bell pepper strips. Serving dips in beautiful bowls or layered in glass jars can enhance visual appeal. Consider garnishing with a sprinkle of herbs, seeds, or a drizzle of olive oil to make your dips look as good as they taste.
- Storage Advice: To keep leftover dips fresh and tasty, store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Most vegan dips also freeze well, so don’t hesitate to make larger batches and save some for later. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before serving again. Note that dips based on fresh avocado might not fare as well in the freezer, so enjoy those promptly.
By following these tips, you’ll create vegan dips that delight you to make and eat and bring joy and creativity to your cooking. Vegan dips are versatile and nutritious and can quickly become the highlight of your dining table, making every bite a celebration of flavor and health.
